Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Saturn I
open-in-new
<p>The Saturn I was a <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> designed as the United States' first <a href="/facts/Medium_lift_launch_vehicle/lYXwEPwC">medium lift launch vehicle</a> for up to 20,000-pound (9,100 kg) <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_orbit/rq1TwayJ">low Earth orbit</a> <a href="/facts/Payload_(air_and_space_craft)/wb7m7LLV">payloads</a>. Its development was taken over from the <a href="/facts/Advanced_Research_Projects_Agency/Uf9sarhT">Advanced Research Projects Agency</a> (ARPA) in 1958 by the newly formed civilian <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>. Its design proved sound and flexible. It was successful in initiating the development of <a href="/facts/Liquid_hydrogen/Vpk3Gb8P">liquid hydrogen</a>-fueled rocket propulsion, launching the <a href="/facts/Pegasus_satellite_program/fAf3Ee98">Pegasus satellites</a>, and flight verification of the <a href="/facts/Apollo_command_and_service_module/rfoTgzFx">Apollo command and service module</a> launch phase aerodynamics. Ten Saturn I rockets were flown before it was replaced by the <a href="/facts/Heavy_lift_launch_vehicle/IUfQAwcI">heavy lift</a> derivative <a href="/facts/Saturn_IB/gpHk3gcW">Saturn IB</a>, which used a larger, higher <a href="/facts/Impulse_(physics)/maePm9Ua">total impulse</a> second stage and an improved <a href="/facts/Saturn_V_instrument_unit/FfJhlzBf">guidance and control system</a>. It also led the way to development of the <a href="/facts/Super_heavy-lift_launch_vehicle/JSwbocv8">super-heavy lift</a> <a href="/facts/Saturn_V/WhpUEFJM">Saturn V</a> which carried the first men to landings on the Moon in the <a href="/facts/Apollo_program/IC1Ek1Ao">Apollo program</a>. </p><p>President <a href="/facts/John_F._Kennedy/1cdDaswg">John F. Kennedy</a> identified the Saturn I, and the <a href="/facts/Saturn_I_SA-5/uvVEDA56">SA-5</a> launch in particular, as being the point where US lift capability would surpass the Soviets, after being behind since <a href="/facts/Sputnik/GQ5KLlNC">Sputnik</a>. </p>